AccorHotels copes with the Airbnb factor in Australia

AccorHotels points out that Airbnb mainly impacts rate rather than volume during peak days.

Like other hoteliers in far-flung destinations, AccorHotels in Asia Pacific is feeling Airbnb’s impact.

In Australia, for example, AccorHotels isn’t deleting plans for new properties because of Airbnb’s growth, but the chain realizes that it might not get the premium rates it used to on days with particularly high demand.

And, the private rental surge has not slowed Accor’s growth. The chain recently added the luxury Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour, the first new-build hotel in Sydney in 20 years. It also added new properties in Brisbane and Sydney’s Western suburbs.

In fact, Accor has 14 hotels under way, and they will add around 2,500 rooms in the next two or three years.

The latest Deloitte Tourism and Hotel Market Outlook noted private rentals have grown twice as much as stays in hotels and short-term apartments in the past year. More than 85 million nights were spent in traditional accommodation in the year to March, while the private rental market accounted for 28.5 million nights.

Airbnb has 122,500 active listings in Australia, up 40 percent from last year at this time.